Collagen Benefits For Men

Benefits of Collagen For Men

Although there are numerous benefits of collagen, these collagen benefits for men we have chosen to list reflect some common complaints and experiences men have reported as they age.

One of the most noticeable things many men experience as they age is thinning hair or baldness. Some men will begin to experience a receding hairline early in their 20s, while others may not notice any thinning until their 30s or early 40s.

If you have started to notice your hair thinning or hairline receding, collagen may benefit you. The skin layers that hold your hair in place weaken as you age, sometimes causing your hair to fall out prematurely. Because collagen is an essential protein for skin elasticity and health, it can also help improve hair strength. So one of the collagen benefits for men is reduced hair loss.
Collagen makes up 70% of your dermis, the middle layer of your skin.

The dermis is the part of your skin that contains the roots of your hair and holds each strand in place. So, if you have a healthy dermis, you are more likely to have a healthy head of hair.

Collagen also promotes hair growth because of its protein structure. Proteins are made from building blocks called amino acids; a vital part of your hair structure. Hair is comprised of a protein called keratin. Since keratin and collagen are both proteins, some of the amino acids in collagen are necessary for keratin production, too. When you take a collagen supplement, your body will break down the collagen into amino acid structures and then distribute them where they are most needed. This means that some of the amino acids will go towards collagen production, and some may be diverted to help synthesize keratin instead.

It is important to note that collagen benefits for men (including for hair health) are likely more effective when collagen is taken orally versus applied topically. When you consume collagen, your body can direct it to where you need it most.

If you are trying to put on muscle, you’ll be pleased to know that one of the collagen benefits for men is that it can help build and maintain muscle mass.

Did you know that anywhere from 1-10% of your muscle structure is made up of collagen? While this doesn’t seem like it would be a considerable percentage, consider that blood vessels, nerves, and other connective tissues contain collagen as a structural component.

There are a variety of types of collagen produced by the body to fortify the form of bone, muscle, or ligament cells but they all have the same principal function: to strengthen and protect that area of the body.

So, without the right amount of collagen, all of these structures would struggle to keep up with a muscle-building routine, and, even worse, some men will lose muscle mass as they age.

Sarcopenia is a syndrome defined by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength as you age. This loss of muscle mass can be caused by various factors, including a physical disability of some kind, poor diet, and lack of physical activity.

Even if you don’t have sarcopenia, loss of muscle strength is prevalent among men as they age.

To continue to do the activities you love, it is important to continue physical activity as you age. To do that, though, you’ll have to feel healthy enough to get up and move!

The amount of collagen that you need to maintain healthy muscles will differ from person to person. Still, no matter the amount, collagen is one thing that provides your body with the tools it needs to keep muscles strong.

Collagen may also benefit other structures important to muscle strength, including blood vessels and tendons.

As many athletes can attest, the health and mobility of your joints are just as important as the health of your muscles.

Well, did you know that collagen is one of the main structural proteins vital to healthy and functional joints?

Since collagen is such an important structure in your cartilage, ligaments, bones, and other joint tissues, one of the collagen benefits for men is healthier joints.

There is evidence to suggest that the right kind of collagen supplements could alleviate joint pain associated with athletics, and also has the potential to be a strong joint injury preventative.

This is likely because collagen is such an integral part of your overall joint structure. When your body’s natural collagen production decreases, your body cannot keep up with the demands of an active lifestyle. A stronger overall joint structure is a great way to support injury prevention.

If you get hit with an injury, your number one priority is getting healthy again as quickly as possible. But you can’t get back to your regular routine until your muscles or tendons are ready to take on the strain of physical exercise again.

Decreasing the time it takes to recover could be one more of the great collagen benefits for men.

Recovery times vary based on the location and severity of the injury, but all injuries have something in common. The body needs time to clear away damaged connective tissue and replace it, fiber by fiber with new collagen tissue.

Even if you’re not in the gym, your body may still need a protein surplus to complete the recovery process as quickly as possible. Taking collagen supplements is a great way to make sure that you’re hitting your daily protein goals, which may speed up recovery times.

One of the lesser-known potential collagen benefits for men is that it could promote good heart health.

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death among men in the United States. This is a problem that is often only tackled by measures such as weight loss and healthy lifestyles.

These measures are helpful, but there is some evidence suggesting that one of the benefits of collagen for men is its support of healthy heart structures.

Collagen provides some vital structures throughout the circulatory system. Your arteries are an essential network connecting your heart and the rest of your body. When your body isn’t producing enough collagen, your arterial structures become weaker and weaker with time.

One study that had patients with atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries) consuming collagen for 6 months found that the intake of collagen improved their artery structure and increased HDL levels (good cholesterol).
While there is some evidence that one of the collagen benefits for men is the potential to reduce risk factors for heart-related health conditions, more research is needed to conclusively determine all of the benefits of collagen for men and their hearts.

One of the many collagen benefits for men is that it can improve your digestive health. If you suffer from leaky gut, IBS, or other digestive issues, collagen may be able to help.

How?

Collagen contains the amino acid glycine, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the gut lining. Collagen also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract.

Collagen is found in the dermis of the skin, where new cells grow. It helps to replace old and dead skin cells. However, the overall content per unit area of the skin surface declines approximately one percent per year. When this happens, the skin becomes weaker and therefore more susceptible to fine lines and wrinkles.

So, taking a collagen supplement (and combining this with a healthy lifestyle - like eating quality food, drinking plenty of water, staying active, stressing less, minimizing toxins, using natural sunscreens) may help to maintain levels and better defend the skin from this deterioration.

How Much Collagen Should I Take?

Research has shown that adults can safely consume between 2.5 and 15 grams of collagen a day. Read the label on your supplement to see how much it contains.

Is collagen good for men?

Absolutely! As we detailed above, there are so many amazing collagen benefits for men, from faster wound healing to increased muscle mass and better joint health.

Does collagen increase testosterone?

This is a common misconception, and there are no strong studies to suggest that collagen will boost testosterone levels.